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New Member Considering Surgery, Any Help

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Posted 12/5/2010 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

I'm 26 and suffering with colonic inertia. Did the Sitz Marker test, Small Bowel test, and the defacography and my GI says my only problem is that my large intestine just doesn't work. Tried all kinds of laxatives, diet changes, always exercised and drank lots of water but it didn't change anything. Doc said of course not, if the muscles in the colon don't work it isn't going to come out. So, he has recommended a complete colectomy that will hook my small intestine directly to my rectum. I'm looking for others that have my same problem (ONLY in the large intestine) and had the surgery where they directly hooked up the small bowel to the rectum. I'm having a hard time finding people that simply have the same problem as me and not Chron's, Colitis, or rectal problems as well. I have talked to lots of people and been to meetings but all I am finding are those that have had Chron's and Colitis and this surgery doesn't fix the problem and people usually get an ostemy afterwards.  My surgeon said that this surgery for other conditions has different outcomes so, I need to find people that have my same condition going in, if I want to find out what my outcome could be. I'm wondering what complications people have encountered after the surgey, continued constipation, dietary changes, long-term diarrhea, incontinence, etc OR did the surgery fix things for good.  Thanks and here's to feeling well!!

Posted 12/5/2010 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
I have colonic inertia and pelvic floor dysfunction...I was recommended that i could have my small intestines directly hooked up to my rectum. But for me it would either be just fine and no problems,i could still have issues, or just not work at all. the difference between you and me is the pelvic floor dysfunction. If there are others like you which I believe there are they might beable to give you some answers. I chose to go the ileostomy route.I would not change it for anything but I am a lot older than you and I just wanted to start living again and take care of my kidos and sweet hubby. I pray that you can get some answers here..Trixiemom
Posted 12/6/2010 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
I had my surgery for the same reason you did, miss1984. Initially until your small intestines adapt to the "new" normal, BMs are very frequent and can be somewhat urgent, this changes over time and changed for me to about 4-5x/day, sometimes less, no urgency, depending upon what i eat, pretty normal stool consistency. there is almost nothing i can't eat although that took awhile to work up to as well. all sorts of things CAN go wrong but usually they don't. recovery is a bit tough and you have to measure progress in weeks but for me, things are good.
Posted 12/6/2010 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,
While I have not had the surgery, I have been dealing with constipation since I was a baby, and have recently become a member of this site. The doctors I am going to now have the sitzmark/breath test/manometry...etc. tests planned for me in January, but based on all I have been through and all the medications/diets/lifestyle changes I've tried, my new GI doctor says that if the tests go as she think they will, they will show that my colon is just "slow as heck". She says she thinks it is colonic inertia. However, I won't know anything for sure until after the tests.
I asked about long-term options if I DO have CI, and she said that if everything else keeps failing, and there are no other issues other than the slow large intestine, then we could discuss removing it. She said the same thing, that if the actual colon muscles are the problem, no amount of exercise, special diets, or whatever, will really work.
I can't give advice on the actual procedure but I did want to tell you that the surgery has been mentioned as a possibility for me also, and I do not have chron's or UC, or anything like that, so I know they do also do the procedure on people with severe constipation.
I am curious, how did your sitzmark test go? And how did yours work? I know many people have had the kind where they take one capsule and go back 5 days later for an x-ray. I have to take 5 capsules, one per day, and go on the 6th day for an x-ray.
I am 24, close to your age. I am hoping they can figure this out and fix it soon because I've lost most of my 20's to this and don't want to lose more time.
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